Obama boosts lead (Lead)

Washington, Nov 5 (DPA) Democrat Barack Obama boosted his lead over his Republican rival John McCain in the electoral college, claiming 200 votes in elections Tuesday after capturing the key battleground state of Ohio, according to projections by major US news networks.The complex electoral college system awards each of the 50 states’ and the District of Columbia’s electoral votes to the candidate who prevails in the state’s popular vote. A candidate needs 270 votes to clinch the White House.

At least two television networks have projected the winner in the following states: